"The city of Mage is awaiting us," Zaria murmured, her eyes closed. She opened her limpid emerald eyes and turned to Zeth. "We must make haste, for the time of chaos is drawing near."
"Time of chaos?" Zeth asked, mystified. Zaria grimaced. "I'm not quite certain…" she closed her eyes again and breathed deeply. Zeth could see the radical eye movement going on underneath her eyelids. She opened her eyes again.
"It's not the Black Hole project," she said quietly. She looked straight at him. "It's civil war."
"But aren't we supposed to go to Mage first?" Cat protested.
Zaria looked up at her. "Not anymore," she said abjectly. "Not with this more threatening, more immediate problem on our hands."
"But we will be going later on," Zeth finished. Zaria nodded, shifting her gaze to Prince Sky, whose subtle expression had not changed.
"You can come with us, can't you Sky?" she asked sanguinely.
Sky transferred his beautiful grey eyes to hers and nodded. "I have nothing left here," he said bleakly.
"Who will govern Torus if you're not here?" Fuuko queried, her inquisitiveness stirred.
"My administration here is quite competent," Sky replied duskily. "They've been doing the job since Star…Star departed. And I know they're loyal, they've been with us since my birth."
"Then that's another complication solved," Zaria concluded, nodding. "Good. You shall come with us…if you wish to." She looked at him most intently. "You appreciate perfectly well the risks you must take once you embark on this mission?" Her green eyes were mesmerizing. "It might be a one-way journey for all of us."
All were quiescent as they waited for Sky's response.
"I fathomed that prior to your arrival," he acknowledged calmly. "My life is naught, compared to the lives of all on this planet."
Oh, how mistaken you are, Zaria thought, gazing steadily at his delicately formed features. Sky, if you could only see how you are a work of art, a depiction of the best of humanity…
Princess Star must have been quite lovely to be the twin of such a creature, Zaria decided. She cleared her throat and smiled winsomely. "I'm elated, Sky," she said humbly. "Thank you. Thank you for not being afraid."
"Don't be too worried about getting to Nova, you should be worried about what to do once we get there," Sky informed Zaria.
"How we gonna get there?" Zack grunted in his crude fashion.
Sky smiled. "You do forget that I am the Prince of Torus," he said imperviously. "I can readily find means for us to get to Nova, in the northern part of the continent, but I'm afraid we cannot disembark directly in Denzeling, for I anticipate that we will not wish our presence to be known."
"That's settled then," Zeth interpolated. Zaria turned to him and nodded. "Now we must establish a course of action to defend Denzeling from the Toki."
"Shouldn't we send a message to warn Prince Luke first?" Adrian asked solicitously.
Breanna nodded in agreement. "We really should, so King Rufus can set up his defenses."
"No," Zitan suddenly intoned. "No, because if King Rufus does that while we're still here, the Toki will somehow find out and use a different approach. What we must do is make haste to Denzeling and set up a subtle and unnoticeable line of magical defense."
Zaria looked up at him. "Yes, that is a good idea," she said softly, her gaze probing. She looked away. "Back to the primary inquisition. What do we do once we're there?"
"I have an inkling of a notion," said Sky. His eyes seemed somber. "We prepare King Rufus for the fact that in this battle, he's opposing his own son. His long-lost son, the former Crown Prince of Northern Nova."
Once aboard the ship, everyone parted ways and went about their own business, except for Zaria and Prince Sky, who remained on the upper deck near the stern of the ship, gazing out into the foamy hyaline below.
"You know, I had doubts that we'd ever find the Ice Warrior," Zaria said faintly, somewhat reticent from the evident attention the enchanting prince was giving to her.
Sky remained silent for a moment, and then spoke. "I would have had no idea that my powers were anything significant, had it not been for Star," he said mildly.
Zaria looked at him, his silky silvery-blue tresses fluttering gracefully in the breeze. She marveled at how exquisite and refined his features were. Was it possible that such an ideal creature lived? One who was so handsome yet so beautiful? He seemed ethereal. It was a wonder he didn't have a bevy of women following him around. "Tell me, Sky, how is it that you're not affianced or something of the like?" she inquired.
Sky smiled vaguely. "I had my sister to look after. She was quite infirm most of the time, and not many paid her the attention she rightfully deserved," he said, his eyes turning hard. "I didn't have much time to think of that matter, not that I really wanted to at any rate."
"What was Star like?" she asked unexpectedly.
Sky pursed his lips and then a blissful smile appeared on his face. "Oh, she was one of the most wonderful creatures there ever was," he mused, "and she would always sacrifice everything for the ones she loved." His facial expression became melancholy. "I suppose the Divine Ones wished for such a sweet female to be one of their maidens, for she was taken early in life, much too early."
Zaria felt her heart twinge for him. "I'm sorry," she said compassionately. "But you do have us now, if that makes you feel any better," she finished, a faint smile on her lips. Sky looked back at her, gazing intensely into her unclouded emerald orbs. She looked back at him just as profoundly, although her penetrating stare had an implication of impasse reflected in them.
"Zaria! You better get down here, Cat's getting motion sickness again!" Zack hollered from down below. "Hurry, or else she's gonna pollute the entire ocean!"
Zaria turned to the prince, chagrined. "I'd better go," she said ruefully, and rushed away, feeling somewhat flustered.
Sky stared after her yearningly, his heart beating eccentrically fast. He looked up at his namesake, thinking of his parents. Oh Father, how could you have done this to me? To infiltrate my mind with thoughts of one female for all eternity and then tormenting me with the exquisite agony of having to be near her. Star, I pray, help me unearth a way to live without despair. Sky closed his eyes and took a deep breath, remembering that first time he had heard her name.
"Yes, Father," Sky said impatiently. "I am here. What is it you wish of me?"
"Sit down, Sky," said Link, patting the cushion next to him. "And I will tell you a tale of the most idyllic woman in the planet, the one whom I wish you could someday marry, if possible."
"I shall marry no one!" declared Sky importantly, "and if it should come that I must, I will only acquiescent to marry Star!"
Link laughed. "Oh, my child, the more you age the less you will think that. You couldn't possibly wed your sister!"
The seven year-old Sky pouted. "Be quick, Father! You're interrupting my playtime!"
"Calm down, Sky," Link said soothingly. "And listen to my tale of the perfect woman, the one whom so many loved and adulated." His gaze turned dreamy. "Even I fell under her captivating spell for a time."
"But don't you love Mother?" Sky asked innocently.
"Of course I have affection for your mother," said Link defensively. "It's possible to love different persons at different times, Sky. This you must comprehend. Yes, a long time ago…it's almost like a dream, really. I had a twin brother…"
"A twin!" exclaimed Sky. "Just like me, Father! I have a twin too! Except that Star is my twin sister!"
"Yes, I know that, my son," Link replied. "No, this was somewhat like another lifetime, where I grew up in Nova," he continued.
"In Nova? But didn't you grow up in Hyrynd – I mean Torus, Father?" interjected Sky.
Link frowned at his young son. "Desist interrupting, Sky, and let me speak." Sky kept silent, rebuked.
"This woman was named Zaria…Zaria Locke…and she had the smile that exuded the warmth of a thousand suns…"
It was on the tip of Sky's tongue to say that the warmth of a thousand suns must have been terribly hot, but he kept his mouth shut and let his father reminisce about this woman who Sky would never meet.
"Oh, she had everything a proper woman should have, and some fine masculine qualities at that. She could combat like a man, debate like a man, and devour like a man. Yet at times she was as feminine and gentle as you could imagine. Her long swirling hair reminded you of melted chocolate…"
It had gone on and on during his childhood years, and continued up to his adolescent years. His father continued to talk about Zaria Locke constantly, and eventually in Sky's mind she became the ideal woman, therefore no woman save Star had been worthy enough in his eyes. And he well enough understood how his father had come to know Zaria, and he dreamed that he might meet her someday…
Link handed a worn picture of Zaria to his fifteen year-old son. "I found this is my especial chest containing the belongings of my last life," he whispered. "I want you to have it, Sky."
Sky looked at the picture of Zaria, the Zaria that he felt like he knew already through all his father's stories. She was as enthralling and charming as his father had described…or did she just seem appealing because she had been painted that way in Sky's own mind?
"I will find a woman like this and no other," he promised, half to his father, half to himself. "I will find a woman like this, or I shall never wed."
Sky smiled bitterly to himself as he recalled of all the mockery and ridicule he had to face during those years. Even Star seemed to doubt him at first.
Star tentatively stepped towards her brother. "Sky," she said gently, "I have something to ask of you." Sky lifted his eyes and cast them towards her. "Yes?"
She swallowed. "Sky, I do very much appreciate how much you dote on me, and how well you take care of me, but sometimes I do wonder, don't you ever think of who will be your queen when you become King of Torus? Sometimes I wonder…do you even care for a woman, any woman beside Mother and I?"
Sky looked away. "No," he said haughtily. "What makes you ask?"
Star took a deep, long breath. "My brother," she pleaded, "please tell me the truth, for I know that cannot be so."
Her handsome brother turned towards her, his face looking strangely distorted. Star was upset at seeing her brother in such a condition. "Please, Sky, I can help you."
His eyes looked deeply distraught. "It's all Father's fault," he rasped. "It was all his doing…"
"Oh…my…" said Star quietly, comprehending instantly.
"I'll never marry!" Sky cried forlornly. "For I do know very well that I shall never find a woman who measures up to her…never…and I haven't even met her!"
"Sky, my darling brother Sky," Star lamented for her brother, hugging him close to her and stroking his beautiful hair. "What has Father done to you? How could he have doomed his own son's heart in such a way?" she whispered, aggrieved. Teardrops trickled down her cheeks as she held her twin close, weeping for the love he would never apperceive.
"I shall never find her," Sky sobbed. "Never." After a moment, he seemed to calm down and straightened himself up.
"If this is the way it must be, then I shall nevermore think of marriage or anything of the sort. You will be my queen, Star. And if you ever marry, I shall relinquish the throne to your consort," he said determinedly, his face rigid as stone. His perfect features seemed chiseled into a hard, cold expression. "This is the way it must be," he finished in an undertone.
Star had been taciturn, gazing plaintively at her brother. The issue was never brought up between them again. Star knew that Sky was to meet such a female, but she also knew that it was up to himself to find happiness.
But indeed, the day that had to come did indeed come, and he had finally met the Zaria Locke he had dreamed of all his life. Oh, if she only had been a disappointment to him! But no, she was everything he had imagined her to be, and more! His father had done the most terrible thing conceivable to Sky. It was tormenting for him to be near her. But he would stand it. He had to. He would be strong. "I'll be strong for you, Star," he whispered, tasting the keen saltiness of his own tears.
I vow that if one day it is somehow proven that Zeth Lanier is not worthy of Zaria, then that will be the day I set foot on the path to win her heart.
Five days later, they had reached the outskirts of Denzeling. The atmosphere was somewhat dismal and dull, far from the crystalline sublimity that it had been when they left.
They all could sense it. "You know, I have this feeling that–" Zack began. Zaria shushed him at once.
"We know," she said gently, her eyes looking murky, the emerald color having taken on a dark and sultry greenish tinge. They entered the city, taking pains to be as obscure as possible, although not many people were around. As they approached the inner sector of the city, shocking sights came into view. Many of the crystal buildings had been singed and were dull and charred, the limpidness gone. There was no one in the streets except a few that seemed to be timorously scurrying about. Those who were doing so looked furtively at them with big, fearful eyes. There was smoke rising from many of the buildings. It was all unmistakable. The Toki had already been there. There were too late.
No one spoke a word as they made their way to the castle, stopping to talk to no one, for none dared come near them.
"What could have happened here?" Cat murmured. Such a magnificent city…already halfway destroyed.
Once they reached the castle they were shocked to find that there was no guards at the door, no one to put up any defense. They simply walked right into the castle.
Zeth stood up tall, taking charge. "This is more than devastation," he said grimly. "We need to find Prince Luke and the King and Queen as soon as possible."
They rushed through the halls of the castle, which fortunately had not yet been ruined. They quickly made their way to the throne room where they had been earlier, and there they found Prince Luke, sitting on his father's throne.
Prince Luke looked up at them as they entered, and his guards immediately stood up and held up their spears threateningly. He had changed greatly, his appearance quite listless and haggard. His skin seemed sallow and anemic, and his eyes were so dull and watery you could barely make out the color. His hair had lost its proud luster, and seemed like a mop hanging limply over his eyes. He seemed frail and debilitated, not at all like his former self.
His eyes lit up slightly with recognition. "Zeth," he said in a voice Zeth could hardly recognize, a voice that held no aristocracy. His guards lowered their weapons.
"Prince Luke," he said, bowing deeply. "We came to warn you…but apparently we…didn't make it."
Prince Luke shook his head feebly. "No, I shouldn't have weakened when I saw my brother," he said sorrowfully. He looked ashamed. "As soon as I realized who he was…I lost all my ability to negotiate…and could only weakly listen as they told us to surrender or they would show their power.
"My father…would do nothing, and as soon as they left he retreated into his chamber and has not emerged ever since. I don't even know if he knows what has happened to the city yet. They were unstoppable! With their Zolom zombies…burning everything in sight…" he shook his head again. "I don't even want to think about how much the people have already suffered. They said they would return within a fortnight, and if I do not surrender they would destroy the entire metropolis." He looked at them with eyes full of despair. "I fear…I fear…that I must yield…"
"We were too late," Cat muttered, shaking her head. "There's nothing we can do now."
"You must not surrender the city," Zeth suddenly said. Everyone turned towards him, startled. He had a torrential, determined look blazing in his eyes.
"I-I don't know what I am to do," Prince Luke sputtered. "Our troops are in no condition to battle the Toki government armed forces after what has happened to our city, as we're completely depleted of resources. It's impossible for Southern Nova's troops to arrive in time as reinforcements, even thought I've already sent word…"
Zeth turned to him and faced him squarely. "The answer, Luke, is in us," he said tersely.
"In you?" Prince Luke looked puzzled.
"Yes, in us," Zeth established firmly. His eyes narrowed slightly. "We are all here, all us Warriors of Mage. We will be your army."
The Prince seemed flustered and uncomfortable. "I-I couldn't p-possibly prevail on you folk for such a favor, it would be improper for–"
"I think not," Zeth interspersed brusquely. "No, it is our duty to attend to such matters. And it's not like you have much of a choice, Luke. You sure as hell can't give up the city to the Toki – do you know how much chaos that might trigger? And it's not likely that King Julian's reinforcements will arrive in time." He turned to the others for their approbation, who slowly nodded one by one.
"We will go and battle the Toki for you in a battlefield of your choosing," Zeth concluded. "All we need is your troops to back us, and a few of your elite warriors whom we can depend on. Leave the rest up to us, Luke."
"I can't possibly make a decision such as this without due consideration," the Prince began, until Zeth held up his hand to hush him.
"Please," he emphasized. "Trust us on this, Luke. We can do this much for you. We can deal with them, especially now since we know that your brother is with them as well. Please."
Prince Luke gazed at Zeth for a moment, and then finally nodded slightly in acquiescence. "I am forfeiting the meager pride I have left for the good of the people," he said contritely, looking up at the ceiling. "I'm placing the existence of our Denzeling into your hands. I beseech you to save us."
"Can promise you only one thing, Luke. We'll try our best."
They waited unwearyingly many hours for the arrival of the Toki.
"It's so unlike them to be tardy, especially to carry out a threat," Cat commented. She held on to her whip tightly with rigid fingers. Cat closed her eyes and took a deep breath, releasing it in a long sigh. This would be a hard battle, one of the hardest yet, she knew. And why was that? Because the enemy was one whom they did not want to harm.
All of a sudden Cat heard a whirring sound from behind her. She whirled around and snapped her whip swiftly, making a thunderous cracking noise on the floor. She relaxed slightly as she realized that it was Aya coalescing before her. "Aya!" she exclaimed, "What are you doing here at a time like this?"
Aya landed smoothly on the ground and shifted her substance into Rena's form. Rena ran over to Cat and astonished her by hugging her fleetingly.
"It's been awhile!" Rena gasped, her chest rising and falling as she huffed and puffed. "And it was quite a grueling process to get here, but here I am." She smiled cheerfully, her entire countenance lighting up. "We're here to help you," she informed them. "Aya said that…that the time…has finally come…" Rena stuttered, faltering. She took a deep breath and stood up straight. "The time has come for Logan to meet his father…in war…for if not, this skirmish is not to be resolved. It has been decreed," she finished steadily.
"H-how is that possible?" Zeth stammered. "King Rufus will not leave his chamber, much less come into battle with his first-born son."
"We must lure Logan into the castle alone," Zaria returned, "where we can detect his vulnerability and according to Rena, perhaps there will be a sign."
Rena glanced obliquely at Zaria. "I'm not sure whether to tell you or not, but I think you ought to know that Rafael Toki is also coming."
"What?" Zaria's face paled as all the blood rushed away.
"Rafael Toki is here," Zeth repeated for her. At the sound of his name, she blanched even more, her skin ashen. Sky perceived this unexpected manifestation of trepidation and strode briskly over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"He has done something to you," Sky noted, looking at her tenderly. "Do not fret, Zaria, for he may not come near you ever again. Zeth and I will see to that," he finalized, glancing explicitly at Zeth. Zeth nodded with apprehension.
"You know that we will all protect you from him," he assured her. She still looked terrified, her eyes large as saucers.
Rena cleared her throat and spoke again. "I will be here to fight too," she said peremptorily, "but we must all make sure that Logan gets to see his father and look him in the eye." She looked up at them. "This is vital."
"You can count on us," Zack inserted, and immediately stiffened as the castle door opened slightly.
A man with a Toki uniform on tentatively stepped in. He coughed. "Vice-President Rafael Toki and Professor Stonewall are here to end negotiations," he said. "They wish not to enter until the signification of this reception is specified," he continued, scrutinizing their weapons.
"What do you think the gist of this welcome is?" Zack growled sardonically. "Take a look around yourself, peon, and rush to tell your betters what you have seen."
The soldier's eyes widened and he hastily scurried back outside.
Zeth glanced askance at Zack, an amused glint in his eye. Without warning the massive doors burst open, and there stood Prince Logan and Rafael Toki, backed by at least ten times as many soldiers as they were. Zaria immediately shrunk back in perturbation, bumping into Sky who squeezed her hand quickly in assurance. Rafael Toki spied Zaria as fast as she had spied him and grinned vulgarly, shaking his blond bangs out of his eyes and smugly keeping his gaze on her, an ugly snarl on his handsome face. Prince Logan spoke first.
"So Prince Luke has refused accept our proposal," he sneered in derision. "So be it. After we have ravaged the Crystal Palace of Denzeling we shall move on to the rest of the city, but first we must establish our authority." His gaze drifted over to Rena and he seemed to go through a tornado of expressions.
"Rena," he finally said. "At last I find you. Enjoy your last few minutes of freedom before you go back to the hell you've come to call home," he said caustically.
She glowered at him angrily, her eyes gleaming. "I think not," she said just as grimly. "For you are nothing the way you are now, Logan," she spat.
His expression turned as heinous as Rafael Toki's. "Scorn me if you will," he muttered, "but the Toki will have the last laugh."
"Enough verbal battling, let's get down to business!" Zack cried, leaping towards him with his spear.
And then the battle began.
Rena quickly transformed into Aya, who rode up into the air and sent a wave of magic so strong it swept the entire Toki regiment off their feet, which provided the others with valuable time to attack.
"Hail Tempest!" Sky said serenely, and icy sleet was pelted down on the soldiers. "Frigid Squall of Death!" A huge glacier momentarily overlaid the regiment, and then Sky fell to his knees, drained. Zaria helped him back to his feet and healed him.
"Thunder Strike 3!" Cat shouted in the meantime, bringing down three soldiers. They continually clashed physically while one by one they each used their magic to hold the soldiers off when they drew too close for comfort. Rafael Toki and Prince Logan remained in the back, protected.
"Stop hiding back there like cowards!" Fuuko shouted as she hurled multiple lances of wind in their direction. The sharp wind barely missed them. Rafael scowled and leaped over his regiment into the front, firing his gunblade at Zeth.
"Tell your lackeys to call me a coward no more," he snarled, sticking his face mere inches from Zeth's and bringing his blade up next to his neck.
"These people you see here are all my equals and they may do as they wish," Zeth said evenly, clanging his sword up to brush Rafael's away. "Catch the gist, Raf?"
Rafael's eyes narrowed as he vaulted past Zeth and landed in front of Zaria. "Hey," he said garishly, grinning at her. She blanched and shakily brought up her swords. "Zaria!" Zeth cried from afar.
"I'm all right!" she called back, although somewhat tenuously. She turned back to Rafael. "You don't intimidate me, Raf," she said determinedly, moving away and bringing up her swords into battle position. She charged forward at godly speed and struck the blunt edge of her sword at Rafael's back.
"You bitch!" he cried, withdrawing in pain. He stood back up and charged towards her, but she dodged his blows deftly, his gunfire missing and injuring his own soldiers.
"Holy Light," she muttered quietly, and she rose up, bathed in radiance that rained down on Rafael Toki and threw him back to the other end of the hall, where he lay inertly. She collapsed to the ground before Sky, the nearest one to her, could catch her. "I did it," she whispered, her lips trembling, before closing her eyes.
Before someone could harm her, Sky expeditiously picked her up and hauled her over to Zitan, instructing him to heal her.
Rena glanced to the side and grinned slightly as she saw Rafael Toki being thrown and knocked out. The Toki forces had already been diminished by more than half. Yet Logan seemed to have kept himself covert.
"I'll find you if it's the last thing I do," she vowed, weaving her way through the combatants. She had to bring Logan to see his father.
Are you certain you can do this, Rena?
Oh yes, Aya, I'm sure. I've never wanted to do anything else more in my entire wretched life!
She finally spotted Logan glancing about furtively in the back. In her eyes flashed fury and affection and passion all mixed into one.
Rena, you really ought to have me handle this…
No, Aya, I can do it.
I understand why you want to, but it's not going to happen, Rena. Logan will not be restored to you. It's merely not conceivable.
Aya…I beg of you, don't dash my one last hope. I really need to do this, or I will never be able to live with myself. Please, just allow me to do this. I know I can without botching everything!
If you truly desire it to be that way…
I do.
And she did.
Rena casually made her way up to Logan, who was now unprotected. He looked at her disdainfully as she approached him, and the look turned into one of arrogance. "So, you have decided to return to me of your own free will, you strumpet," he said nasally.
She looked up at him reproachfully. Then she lowered her head ignominiously. "Yes, indeed, for I have discovered that I cannot stay away, Professor," she said in a dulcet tone. "I just ask one last thing of you. Please, allow me to proceed momentarily to the King's chamber to obtain an item I have long coveted."
Logan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Brainwashed as he may be, he was no fool. "I do have a notion of how your absurd little mind works. What is your cardinal objective here?"
Rena raised her head and looked at him innocently with the most ethereal jade-green eyes that could ever exist. "I only want to take along a keepsake of your subjugation here to remind me of your veritable power and how much of a fool I was to attempt to escape," she said, gazing up into his eyes. "Please," she implored. "I will be back soon."
Logan scowled for a moment and then nodded his head slightly. "If you must," he muttered, "I shall come with you to ensure that you do not try to pull any ruses."
"It would make it even more pleasant to have you accompany me, Logan," Rena said mellifluously. She took his hand and led him through the throng of warriors. "Come."
Aya, please make us indiscernible to the Toki. Perhaps a semi-spell of invisibility would suffice?
Done. Nice work, Rena. You performed quite a laudable task in beguiling Logan to come along.
Rena lowered her eyes morosely. At the price of my own heart, she thought.
From the far end of the vast hall, Cat could see Rena and Logan pushing their way through all the soldiers, being as obscure as possible. She breathed a sigh of relief. Now all they had to do was hold off the soldiers while Rena took Logan to see King Rufus…hopefully nothing severe would happen.
She whipped around just as another soldier aimed his sword at her. Guns and firearms were not much used in battle, but mostly used for singular assassination missions, as Cat had come to learn. Most warriors still used basic weapons for warfare and combat because those who were adept in the arts of combat could use them most readily. Firearms were saved for those who were incompetent and didn't know how to fight, except for the sharpshooters and snipers, who ordinarily did those assassination assignments. One could tell the difficulty of upcoming battles by seeing the weapons of one's opponents.
It was obvious that all the Toki soldiers had been excellently trained, for they were all apt at utilizing weapons that did not spout fire.
She cast a miniscule thunder spell on the three opponents in front of her, who then fell to the floor, stunned by the electric shock. She smirked. They wouldn't be arising for the interim. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Zaria slinking out of the room inconspicuously, following Rena and Logan. She frowned slightly. Someone else ought to have gone as well. Cat was instantly set at ease when she saw Sky just as inconspicuously trail behind her. The handsome prince would accompany her. She chuckled to herself. Zaria seemed to inadvertently radiate charisma that reached all kinds of creatures, including herself. What would Zeth conceive of that?
"Oof!" The wind was knocked out of Cat as she brutally was thrown to the floor. After catching her breath she shot back up and drop kicked the soldier, but ended up missing and swinging at air. Her double-or-nothing move had been nothing, and Cat dropped to the ground on her front, thoroughly debilitated and battered.
"Oh, leave me alone," she muttered, her world blurring before her. Her eyes slowly slid shut.
"Cat!" Zeth shouted from only a few meters away as he saw his friend stagger to the ground. "Cat, hang in there!"
His jaw tensed as he stroked his sword to the side deftly, tightening his well-proportioned robust arm sinews. Sweat poured profusely over his brow, but he had no time to bring his wrist up to wipe it off. Some of his hair was matted to his forehead. His dank bronze strands intensified in their rich shade, the perspiration making them glisten.
Fuuko glanced sidelong at Zeth, reminded of just how good-looking he really was. But still…no one was comparable to Sky in appearance. She mechanically kept her body in motion, ceaselessly swinging her compressed air claws. Practically every female that set eyes on Sky involuntarily became fixated on him, the most ideal male ever to grace the heavens, which was really what Sky was. He was the heavens, the vault of heaven, the ideal counterpart. And remarkably, he found Zaria just as heavenly as the rest of them found him to be.
Which presumably wouldn't go too well for Zeth, Fuuko thought ruefully. She sighed internally, feeling sympathetic for Zeth. Zaria had seemed quite taken with Sky, and moreover, Fuuko knew that Zeth perceived it.
Oh yes, she herself was by all means very impressed by Sky, but Zeth was quite impressive himself, and maybe Zaria was taking it for granted that such a wondrous person cared for her so, now that another marvel of pulchritude also took a special interest in her. Or was she judging Zaria too quickly? Any female would be beyond dazzled to have one such as Sky paying so much attention to her, but then again, any female would be amply dazzled to have one such as Zeth pay attention to her. It would have to be remedied, Fuuko decided authoritatively. She would see to that.
"Squall of Turbulence!" A whole troupe of men was laid low as the wind rushed over their heads and the others quickly struck the final blows. Fuuko flicked her eyes towards Zeth. He turned his aqua gaze toward her, visibly perturbed.
She left us, his eyes said. Fuuko felt the blood rush to her face as she looked away, her eyes full of sympathy.
She saw the silvery blue tresses ephemerally when she whipped around. "Oh, Sky, you followed me," Zaria said, her voice full of relief and displeasure at the same time. She was relieved that there was a friend there along with her, but also displeased because that implied that Sky didn't think that she could handle this herself. There was no response from Sky, who was still hiding behind the pillar as obscurely as possible. "Sky, you can come out now," she murmured. "It's only me here."
"Get…back…here…" she heard him speak softly.
"What?"
"Now…quickly…"
Zaria moved swiftly and hurried over to the pillar where Sky was hiding and unobtrusively stepped to his side. "What is it?" she asked him, feeling quite self-conscious. He turned his handsome head in her direction and put his index finger to his lips.
"Just a moment," he said quietly.
Zaria exhaled and stood there waiting while Sky focused on the source of magic coming from nearby from their position.
"Something strange is going on," he muttered, his stormy grey eyes flitting back and forth. His flawless fair complexion paled, making his skin an implacable shade of white. "I feel…I feel strange magic operating…we…we must get out of this hallway!"
"What?" Zaria repeated, alarmed. Sky grabbed her hand and wrenched her towards the nearest door out of that hallway. It was all she could do to keep herself from falling as she stumbled after him. "What are you doing, Sky?" she cried, but then was hushed when she felt a malevolent presence slip by her as she was running. A shiver ran through her body. It wasn't any typical, ordinary magic. This was state-of-the-art magic that was pursuing them.
Oh, how alarmed she was, but Zaria knew that Sky would have something in mind. She remained silent as they fled. "Stop!" Sky shouted, and he pushed her down to the ground and plunged down beside her.
"Frost Shield," he murmured, and a translucent barrier was formed over them. As hard as she tried, Zaria could not prevent a whimper from escaping. "I know you feel the cold," Sky said soothingly, "but it's what protects us." Zaria still couldn't help but shiver, but was taken aback when she felt Sky spreading his heavy cloak over her.
"Don't look outside," he whispered. But Zaria looked, then immediately chastised herself for doing so. For outside was one of the most horrifying sights she had ever seen, a grotesque blob that vaguely resembled a Zolom Zombie. Oh, how that figure could still frighten her so!
"Make it go away," she moaned, her stomach clenching in fear.
"It's after us," Sky said gravely. "I can only attack if I withdraw the barrier…but then that would leave us vulnerable. Somehow, it knew that we were sneaking up on Prince Logan."
"Make it go away," she repeated, burying her face in her hands. Sky slowly pried her hands away and looked her in the eye.
"To do that, I must remove the barrier and you must be prepared to defend yourself. You must trust me."
Zaria shrank back in fear but then gazed into Sky's eyes and saw his sincerity. "I…trust you," she whispered weakly, and closed her eyes. She felt the air around her warm slightly as Sky removed the icy barrier. They were faced with a horrendous Zolom Zombie peering down at them.
"Freeze Level 3," Sky said quietly, focusing his magic on the zombie. He turned towards Zaria. "Cast your Holy," he instructed. "Only the sword of a Being may exterminate this creature, and that we do not have. We must lay the creature low and defer it until someone who is eligible of slaying it comes upon us. But then, we might be faced with another fight, a fight with a Being."
Zaria quickly cast her Holy on the creature, feeling bleak. What were the chances that a Being would come to their rescue?
"I sense something," Zeth said, his sweat pouring down his brow.
Fuuko turned his way abruptly. "What is it?" she asked, alarmed. "If you need to go anywhere, Zeth, the rest of us can hold them off here." She punctuated her statement with another blow, eliminating yet another Toki soldier. "Almost feel bad ridding the planet of all this trash," she muttered. She turned back to him. "Go quickly!"
He nodded and delivered one last strike to the opponent in front of him and fled towards the Royal Chamber. He tore through the impressive doorway and slammed it shut behind him. He continued to run with all his speed. He knew it know. He could sense it. It was none other than the Zolom Zombie, whose DNA the Toki had gotten from a Being planet. He recognized the scent all too well.
Zaria's in there, he realized, and that realization made his speed increase. Finally he slid to an abrupt stop. "It's somewhere around here," he muttered to himself, closing his eyes. He could feel its presence nearby…
"Destruction!" he shouted, his eyes flying open as he whirled around and let a flow of magic shoot itself into the zombie's body.
The zombie let out a ghastly shriek as it dropped to the ground. It wailed and pulled itself up again, its rot soiling the floor. Zeth gritted his teeth and pulled out his sword and held it in front of him, focusing his magic into it. "Destruction…SWORD!" he howled, driving the blade into its decrepit body. He scrunched his eyes shut and clenched his jaw as the rot spewed all over him. It smelled gruesome, but he persisted in hacking away at the creature. Soon it lay in pieces on the ground, and none of the pieces stirred. It had been destroyed. Zeth took a deep breath and then immediately began violently coughing, the spasms shaking his chest. What a stench! He hurriedly wiped his sword off and sheathed it and set off at a run.
Zaria, where could you be? These zombies were horrendous foes if not dealt with properly. For if one who did not have the proper magic tried to decapitate it, the parts would simply regenerate themselves into separate zombies, putting the person in an even more dreadful predicament. He prayed to the Divine Ones that she hadn't encountered one of them.
"I don't think this is the way to go!" he heard a female voice shout from not far ahead. Zeth sprinted the rest of the way and came upon Zaria and Sky, but neither of them was clearly in view, for they were blocked by literally dozens of zombies.
"Zaria!" he cried. She didn't seem to hear him, but he could see and hear her clearly.
"Frigid Squall of Death!" Sky called, wielding his sickle up high. Zeth bounded out of range as a glacier settled over the mass of zombies. He dashed at maximum velocity and launched himself into the air over the zombies, landing right in front of Sky and Zaria.
"Move back!" he directed, and Sky produced his barrier around Zaria and himself. "THE END!" Zeth shouted, summoning a colossal current of Destruction. The sinister magic drifted over to the zombies and exploded, blowing them all into bits. Putrid debris flew everywhere, spattering Zeth's clothing.
However, the zombies had been vanquished. Zeth smiled in satisfaction and turned around to look at Sky and Zaria, winking as he did so. Sky dissolved his Frost Shield.
"Zeth!" Zaria cried, rushing into his arms. "Thank you for coming in time to save us!"
Sky tried to smile in gratitude, but discovered he couldn't. It hurt too much. "Why don't we go to the King's chamber now?" he heard himself saying. "Or else our leaving the main battle would have been a complete waste."
Another shaft whizzed through the air and wedged itself into another Toki soldier. "Yes," Adrian murmured, sending three more simultaneously in yet another direction.
"Did anyone notice that Prince Logan is gone?" Fuuko called out. Adrian whipped his head around, scanning the throng for the prince.
"Yes!" he shouted in reply. "He's gone, but I think I saw him leaving with Aya, so hopefully that's under control!"
Meanwhile, Rafael Toki was regaining consciousness. "Almost got them all!" Zack called cheerfully. And it was true. There were only about twenty Toki soldiers left in battle. Most of them were either injured or had escaped, whereas most of the Denzeling army was still standing.
"Triple Apocalypse!" Zack shouted, calling forth his strongest dosage of Apocalypse, getting rid of half the soldiers that were left.
A few minutes later, the battle was over.
"Whoo-hoo!" Cat cheered. "We won!" In their exhilaration, they didn't notice that Rafael Toki had left.
Rena stopped abruptly when she reached the most majestic doors she had ever seen.
Yes, this is the chamber of King Rufus.
Rena glanced back at Professor Stonewall. "Professor, we're here," she told him sweetly. "I can go in on my own now. Are you certain you need to come along?"
Good. Bait him.
"Of course I need to go with you," he growled. "I still don't trust you, wench."
Rena shrugged. "As you wish." She pushed open the double doors, and within the room she saw King Rufus sitting unaccompanied.
"Don't disturb me!" the King barked. "If you have business with the Queen, she's in the next room. I'm not to be disturbed under any circumstances!"
"Please, your majesty," Rena said dulcetly. "There's someone you might want to meet. She turned around and gestured to the professor.
"So this is your plan!" Professor Stonewall snarled. "I should have known. Well, it won't work, wench!"
King Rufus was shaking his head in disbelief. "Logan," he murmured. "My son, returned to me at last…but alas, not as himself."
"You got that right, old geezer!" Professor Stonewall declared. "So I suggest you surrender Northern Nova to the Toki here and now! It would save a lot of bloodshed of your countrymen."
King Rufus's eyes were watery. "My son…" he whispered. "This can't be you." The door of the room flew open.
"It's not!"
Zaria stood there, breathing heavily. "It's not!" she stressed. "This isn't who Prince Logan really is! He's been brainwashed by the Toki!"
"You must not give in, King Rufus!" Rena added.
"What are all you fools entailing?" Professor Stonewall demanded. "Do not underrate my power! Do not provoke me if you do not wish to die!"
"My son!" King Rufus cried, rushing towards Professor Stonewall.
"Noooo!" Zaria shouted, reaching her hand out. "He's dangerous! Stay away from him!" Zeth raced towards the two, attempting to push the King away from his son, but did not succeed. King Rufus had clasped Professor Stonewall in his embrace and was crying.
"Your majesty!" Rena cried, alarmed. Fortunately, Professor Stonewall was not harming the King.
"Logan," the King wept, holding his son. Professor Stonewall began to shake erratically.
"What's happening to him?" Sky asked anxiously. The professor slowly lifted his arms up and wrapped them around the King. Then he slowly began squeezing, harder and harder.
"No! Logan, stop!" Rena cried, rushing to them both.
He's trying to smother the King!
"LOGAN!" Rena screamed shrilly. The professor abruptly loosened his grip on the King and began shaking again. The others could do nothing but watch in horror. Professor Stonewall shook even harder; so vigorously his teeth began to rattle.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he screeched in agony. All of a sudden, he whole body undulated and there was a deafening crack. He opened his eyes, which were now…gentle. Tears slowly slid down his cheeks.
"Logan…he's back!" Rena whispered, overjoyed.
"Father!" Prince Logan cried, and held his father closely to him, sobbing. He then let go of his father. "I…I'm free," he breathed. "I'm free of the bondage. I…I'm myself again!" He turned towards the rest of them and spied Rena, who was gazing at him with the tenderest expression on her face.
"Oh, Rena," he whispered sorrowfully, "if you can never find it in your heart to forgive me for what I've put you through, I'll accept that." He cast his eyes downward. "I had no command over my actions. It was like I didn't exist anymore. But ever since I saw you that one time when you were escaping, I've been able to see through Professor Stonewall's eyes, to see what was going on around me, although I had no control over myself. It was terrible."
Rena took a step towards him, her face streaked with salty droplets. "How could I not forgive you?" she wept, hastily rubbing the tears out of her eyes. "It didn't matter how cruelly you treated me…I knew you were in there, fighting to come back out."
Prince Logan looked up at her. "I'm so sorry, Rena!" he cried, reaching out for her. She ran into his embrace, the both of them in tears.
Zaria, almost in tears herself, smiled at Zeth and Sky. "Our work here is complete," she said softly. "It's time for us to go."
"NOT SO FAST!" a voice boomed from the door. It was Rafael Toki, roughly dragging Queen Trisha. He had his gunblade to her throat. He smirked as he dragged the Queen further into the room.
"Queen Trisha!" Zaria cried.
"I knew you were untrustworthy from the start," he growled, gesturing to Prince Logan, who drew back in trepidation. He smiled. "Therefore, I have Plan B in action. In Plan B, I single-handedly eliminate the entire royal family of Northern Nova. Doesn't that sound sweet to you?"
"That won't be happening with us around," Zeth muttered menacingly, unsheathing his sword. Zaria brought out her twin swords threateningly and Sky held up his sickle ominously.
Rafael threw his head back and laughed chillingly. "Please, I dealt with two of you with no difficulty last time. What makes you think that I can't handle three of you?"
"Try us," Zaria said, grinning wickedly. Rafael laughed even harder. "Why do you think I brought the Queen with me? So you could just waltz over and attempt to exterminate me?"
"Which is why we must separate you from the Queen," Sky informed him condescendingly, bounding over with lightning speed and wrenching the Queen away from his grasp. Rafael howled in anger and lunged towards Sky, but Zeth was hot on his tail. Rafael whirled around and slashed at Zeth, wounding him in the chest. Zeth cried out in pain as he fell to the floor.
"Cure,"
Zaria murmured, healing him. However, while she was doing so Rafael
was charging towards the King.
"King Rufus!" Rena cried,
running to block the King from the blade.
"Rena!" Logan cried, running to block Rena from the blade.
"Double Slash!" Richard bellowed malevolently, slashing at both Rena and Logan.
"NOOOO!" King Rufus cried, leaping towards his son.
"King Rufus!" Sky yelled, releasing the Queen and diving towards the King. Rafael was swift as he snatched Zaria and dexterously brought his blade up to her fair throat.
"Anyone move and she's dead!" he shouted, glaring at all of them. "I know you can use magic, but if any of you try to draw on a spell, this Locke girl is history!"
"Go help them and ignore me!" Zaria cried to Zeth and Sky. Both of them froze in place, uncertain about what to do.
"Shut up!" Rafael snarled. He brought the hilt of his blade up to Zaria's head and struck her unconscious.
"Zaria!" Zeth shrilled, enraged. He charged into Rafael head-on, wrenching Zaria away from his grasp. Meanwhile, Sky was checking on Prince Logan and Rena.
"Oh, no!" Sky cried. "Rafael's blade is soaked in poison!" Indeed, they were severely wounded and seemed to be drifting out of consciousness.
"Destruction!" Zeth barked in fury, and the Destruction focused itself on Rafael Toki, completely annihilating him. Rafael was gone. Zeth dropped to his knees, exhausted from the effort of so tremendous an invocation of magic.
"Zaria, get up!" Sky wailed, shaking her gently. "Rena and Logan are nearly done for!"
Rena slowly opened her eyes to look at the others, and then turned around to look at Prince Logan.
Aya…am I dying?
Shhhh. Keep your thoughts at rest, Rena.
You can tell me. I can feel my body weakening…
I know you feel the pain, but it means nothing! Pain means nothing!
What will you do if I die?
You're not going to die, Rena.
I…I think I am. Tell Logan that…I'll see him in Heaven.
Rena…
Or I'll tell him myself.
Rena opened her eyes again and gazed towards Prince Logan. "Logan," she whispered.
He painstakingly brought his head around to gaze at her. "Rena…I'm sorry I will never see you walk down the aisle…and we can never grow old…"
"Of course you will!" Queen Trisha sobbed. "You won't die, my son!"
In the meantime, Sky and Zeth were still trying to revive Zaria to heal the two and King Rufus had gone out for help.
"I fear…I will be gone soon…" Rena breathed. "Logan…I'll see you in Heaven."
Prince Logan's lips slowly curved into a smile. "Yes. I'll see you in Heaven."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Rena smiled and took another deep breath. That was her last one.
"I could've saved them!" Zaria moaned, burying her face in her hands. "I failed them. I failed them!"
"It's not your fault, Zaria," Fuuko consoled. "At least they're together now."
A beam of moonlight appeared on the floor and grew larger and larger until Princess Louvia and Prince Claude materialized. Princess Louvia wordlessly walked over to Rena, bent over her and touched her forehead with two fingers and chanted a prayer.
"What is she doing?" Zaria asked, alarmed.
Prince Claude turned toward her. "We will keep Aya's spirit safe until you need her again, Zaria. And if you do not need her again then we shall keep her until her curse is lifted and she can go on to the afterlife. The body she inhabited has been killed, therefore Aya cannot escape it of her own free will, and so we must take her. She is after all one of our many descendants, just as you are. Rest assured, Zaria. She will be safe."
"Thank the Divine Ones that it is so," Zaria breathed. "What are we to do now, Prince Claude?"
"It is time for us to build the barrier," Sky answered, glancing at the Prince of the moon.
"Yes, what the Ice Warrior says is correct," Prince Claude said, eyeing him. "His sister was one of the most knowledgeable creatures ever to grace the planet, even more so than you, Zaria. She has bestowed upon her twin brother all the information there is to know about what you must do and what might come to pass, so Sky is a great source of information."
Sky raised his eyes to meet Prince Claude's. "And my sister…where is she now?"
"Not in my kingdom," the Prince replied. "I give you a gift, Prince Sky of Torus," he said, tossing something in the air over to the Sky. A glowing blue light surrounded Sky. "It is the gift of Cure magic, which will make you priceless soon," he muttered, looking down. "Use it as well as you can, but remember magic cannot cure everything." Princess Louvia stood up and nodded. "It is time for us to take our leave," the Prince said. "Farewell. I mean it. Take care of yourselves, and do not let your guard down. Don't lose faith." And with that, they dematerialized into the moonbeam, which slowly disappeared.
"Go to Mage," Prince Luke told them. "My parents will recover soon. Life does go on. And…I'm sure if I had known Logan in his later years I would have been able to speak for him as well. I've held you here long enough."
"But Luke," Sky said, "this is the time when you need support the most."
Prince Luke shook his head. "You must go. Didn't you need to go to Mage? Giselle already told me. Every day counts, for our time is running out. You must do what you have to do."
Zaria gazed up at the Prince. "What you say is true, your majesty," she said softly. "I'm afraid we must depart forthwith."
The Prince nodded in agreement. "I will provide transportation for you to Southern Nova within the hour."
"It is unnecessary, Prince Luke!" Zeth exclaimed. "You must keep all your workforce here in order to commence with the restoration of Denzeling!"
Prince Luke waved it off. "No need. Consider it a favor to my cousin, who is in turn your nephew," he said, nodding towards Sky. "You all have done so much for us here in Denzeling, the least we can do is help you in any way we can."
Zeth's face stiffened, but he nodded in assent. "Then thank you, Prince Luke," he said humbly. "We deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness."
The time had finally come. Zaria knew that it was inevitable, but she dreaded it nonetheless. Who knew what would come to pass once they reached the ancient city of Mage? It was just as unnerving as the trip to Tenebatos had been.
Lately, however, the situation between Zeth and herself had become slightly awkward in some aspects. She had a feeling that he knew that there was a certain force pulling him away from her protection, from her grasp. She knew his resolve was weakening, that perhaps a part of him was still incomplete. And she knew why. Because the part of Zeth that would complete him and make him virtually invulnerable to the Beings was Zitan, and there was no known way to merge Zeth and Zitan to make a complete General Tide. But then…Zeth was the one she had fallen in love with. Did it matter whether he was fully General Tide or not? Zaria didn't know.
However, Sky was here now and he would be here to stay, Zaria could feel it. Which was a good thing, since he was stable and informative and very capable. If things fell apart, Sky would find a way to keep the pieces together. She only prayed that what fell apart would not be the one she loved most.